Even though Ascend Media Co promised to keep the news covered, the story still managed to spread through all of Manta in less than a day. Despite AsterCorp’s reassurances to the masses that the standard-issue Hazardous Environment Construction Suits ensure optimal safety, the general populace remains suspicious. Having seven construction workers lose their hold on the sides of the Space Elevator and plunge to their deaths in the course of two days did nothing to improve their confidence in AsterCorp’s technology or management.
With the outcry over the employee’s deaths and the existing dissatisfaction with the low pay and general abuse of workers in the city, AsterCorp feared further strikes, protests, and even riots from workers’ rights groups. Such activities would have a profound impact on productivity, which is not wanted with the space elevator so close to completion.
AsterCorp’s spies discovered that Kara Balewa was planning to hold a demonstration at the Manta Low Orbit Launch Pad when the rocket Pisces III returns with metal and water collected from its recent asteroid mining trip. As a result, Li Hui is stuck in one of AsterCorp’s Surveillance Centers watching feeds from security cameras and surveillance drones surveying the launch pad trying to discover Kara Balewa or one of her collaborators and cut them off before they attempted whatever disruptive activity they intended.
Cameras near the north end of the launch pad show the E-33 Lightning VII docking in the ocean next to the launch zone, getting ready to be loaded with cargo once the Pisces III lands. The ground crew scurry around the pad making sure everyone is in place and the cargo transfer can happen without a hitch. As workers pass through the camera's view, the security center’s machines run a facial recognition to identify the passing employees. Once they are identified, the programs run a search on the individual’s public records and uses a backdoor provided by Ascend Media Co to search their private accounts and communication records looking for incriminating evidence. When the algorithms find anything suspicious they flag the individual and shows a report to the attendant member
A new alert is displayed on Hui’s monitor, showing a report for a cargo loader from Lao named Dien Vin Ngo. The records show that Dien tended to be shy and not communicate with any of his colleagues or other individuals. However, his browser history showed him looking various foreign language learning websites and training programs, including training apps not approved by AsterCorp’s contracts. Manta Departure Zone operated under the philosophy that individuals needed to constantly develop themselves to handle their designated job with the utmost efficiency and included the expectation that no one would waste time developing capabilities that were unnecessary for their current position. Since fluency in Spanish, English, or Mandarin is not considered necessary skills for a cargo loading position, the consistent interest in learning irrelevant skills is flagged as suspicious by the system. Furthermore, he was seen talking with a Chinese worker who was known to associate with Kara. Looking over the records, Hui suspects that Dien had no ties to the workers’ rights activities, and was just trying to learn to communicate with the people around him, who did not speak his language. However, even with this insufficient evidence that Dien was involved, Hui knew his superiors would have his head if he let a “potential suspect” go. Hui sighs and rubs his tired eyes thinking about how he has become used to the treatment of workers in the city. Once he removes his hand from his eyes, he hits the button for the microphone at the station.
“We have a suspected workers’ rights member. His name is Dien Vin Ngo. He is of Asian descent with light brown skin and short black hair. I will send you the information.” Hui manipulates the touch controls for the security center’s monitor’s and transfers the security program’s report to the security forces stationed out on the pad. “He is working in the north-west corner of the main launch pad. Send one or two people to investigate.”
Hui receives a feed from a mind implant of one of the security guards as they seek out the Asian man. The cargo loaders are moving creates off of the concrete launch area so that the Pieces III rocket has room to land when it arrives. The area around Dien is mostly clear except for a crate or two, so the security forces located him quickly. One of the guards grabbed Dien by the shoulder while the other started screaming in Spanish, asking about his involvement with Kara and the worker’s rights movement. However, Dien only responded by giving the questioner a blank look and shaking his head, saying he didn’t understand.
“He’s not cooperating”, growls the guard who is questioning Dien through the radio systems.
Hui takes a breath and runs a hand through his close-cropped, dark hair, “He probably does not know what you are saying. His records show he mostly speaks Lao and Vietnamese.”
“Right! Sure, he doesn’t! The data says he spent hours learning it. There is no way he doesn’t understand. The bastard is just playing dumb.”, the guard responds, “We’ll make him talk though.”
The guard slaps the cargo loader and pulls him face to face. The guard yells at the worker to drop the act. When the worker is unable to understand the security personnel questions and commands, the guard starts backhanding and shaking the offending suspect. Hui notices that the incident is getting attention from Dien’s fellow workers. No one stops to stare, as being seen doing nothing was an easy way to get fired, however they look over as they hear the yelling. Hui can’t help but notice some of the cargo loaders passing by glare at the security personnel. He knew that none of the other workers would intervene out of fear of sharing Dien’s fate. However, letting an AsterCorp security guard harass an innocent worker, would not help AsterCorp regain its employee’s trust. In all probability, it would only further incite resistance and backlash from the workforce.
Hui hit the talk button, “That’s enough! You can’t treat unconfirmed suspects like that.”
The aggressor grunted, “Why not!? The bastard needs to be shown his place.”
Hui winced at that, “Ok. Bring him back to the holding cells, I will be there to help sort this out properly. Before you say anything, that is an order!”
Hui watches the guards manhandle Dien Vin Ngo across the launch pad, before turning away from the screen. Hui does not know if Dien would end up being let go or find himself in a cell, but for now he would try his best to resolve this situation. Incidents like this reminded Hui of the system he has become part of. As Hui prepares to meet the captured worker, he could hardly remember his original idealism when he came to the city.
With the outcry over the employee’s deaths and the existing dissatisfaction with the low pay and general abuse of workers in the city, AsterCorp feared further strikes, protests, and even riots from workers’ rights groups. Such activities would have a profound impact on productivity, which is not wanted with the space elevator so close to completion.
AsterCorp’s spies discovered that Kara Balewa was planning to hold a demonstration at the Manta Low Orbit Launch Pad when the rocket Pisces III returns with metal and water collected from its recent asteroid mining trip. As a result, Li Hui is stuck in one of AsterCorp’s Surveillance Centers watching feeds from security cameras and surveillance drones surveying the launch pad trying to discover Kara Balewa or one of her collaborators and cut them off before they attempted whatever disruptive activity they intended.
Cameras near the north end of the launch pad show the E-33 Lightning VII docking in the ocean next to the launch zone, getting ready to be loaded with cargo once the Pisces III lands. The ground crew scurry around the pad making sure everyone is in place and the cargo transfer can happen without a hitch. As workers pass through the camera's view, the security center’s machines run a facial recognition to identify the passing employees. Once they are identified, the programs run a search on the individual’s public records and uses a backdoor provided by Ascend Media Co to search their private accounts and communication records looking for incriminating evidence. When the algorithms find anything suspicious they flag the individual and shows a report to the attendant member
A new alert is displayed on Hui’s monitor, showing a report for a cargo loader from Lao named Dien Vin Ngo. The records show that Dien tended to be shy and not communicate with any of his colleagues or other individuals. However, his browser history showed him looking various foreign language learning websites and training programs, including training apps not approved by AsterCorp’s contracts. Manta Departure Zone operated under the philosophy that individuals needed to constantly develop themselves to handle their designated job with the utmost efficiency and included the expectation that no one would waste time developing capabilities that were unnecessary for their current position. Since fluency in Spanish, English, or Mandarin is not considered necessary skills for a cargo loading position, the consistent interest in learning irrelevant skills is flagged as suspicious by the system. Furthermore, he was seen talking with a Chinese worker who was known to associate with Kara. Looking over the records, Hui suspects that Dien had no ties to the workers’ rights activities, and was just trying to learn to communicate with the people around him, who did not speak his language. However, even with this insufficient evidence that Dien was involved, Hui knew his superiors would have his head if he let a “potential suspect” go. Hui sighs and rubs his tired eyes thinking about how he has become used to the treatment of workers in the city. Once he removes his hand from his eyes, he hits the button for the microphone at the station.
“We have a suspected workers’ rights member. His name is Dien Vin Ngo. He is of Asian descent with light brown skin and short black hair. I will send you the information.” Hui manipulates the touch controls for the security center’s monitor’s and transfers the security program’s report to the security forces stationed out on the pad. “He is working in the north-west corner of the main launch pad. Send one or two people to investigate.”
Hui receives a feed from a mind implant of one of the security guards as they seek out the Asian man. The cargo loaders are moving creates off of the concrete launch area so that the Pieces III rocket has room to land when it arrives. The area around Dien is mostly clear except for a crate or two, so the security forces located him quickly. One of the guards grabbed Dien by the shoulder while the other started screaming in Spanish, asking about his involvement with Kara and the worker’s rights movement. However, Dien only responded by giving the questioner a blank look and shaking his head, saying he didn’t understand.
“He’s not cooperating”, growls the guard who is questioning Dien through the radio systems.
Hui takes a breath and runs a hand through his close-cropped, dark hair, “He probably does not know what you are saying. His records show he mostly speaks Lao and Vietnamese.”
“Right! Sure, he doesn’t! The data says he spent hours learning it. There is no way he doesn’t understand. The bastard is just playing dumb.”, the guard responds, “We’ll make him talk though.”
The guard slaps the cargo loader and pulls him face to face. The guard yells at the worker to drop the act. When the worker is unable to understand the security personnel questions and commands, the guard starts backhanding and shaking the offending suspect. Hui notices that the incident is getting attention from Dien’s fellow workers. No one stops to stare, as being seen doing nothing was an easy way to get fired, however they look over as they hear the yelling. Hui can’t help but notice some of the cargo loaders passing by glare at the security personnel. He knew that none of the other workers would intervene out of fear of sharing Dien’s fate. However, letting an AsterCorp security guard harass an innocent worker, would not help AsterCorp regain its employee’s trust. In all probability, it would only further incite resistance and backlash from the workforce.
Hui hit the talk button, “That’s enough! You can’t treat unconfirmed suspects like that.”
The aggressor grunted, “Why not!? The bastard needs to be shown his place.”
Hui winced at that, “Ok. Bring him back to the holding cells, I will be there to help sort this out properly. Before you say anything, that is an order!”
Hui watches the guards manhandle Dien Vin Ngo across the launch pad, before turning away from the screen. Hui does not know if Dien would end up being let go or find himself in a cell, but for now he would try his best to resolve this situation. Incidents like this reminded Hui of the system he has become part of. As Hui prepares to meet the captured worker, he could hardly remember his original idealism when he came to the city.